On the Amtrak Pacific Surf-liner
Soo Yong Kim
People enjoy traveling around the world. Sometimes, we go on a trip to countryside as well. Travel, journey or voyage enrich our lives abundantly with lots of great experiences. This year, I had itchy feet. it was a great pleasure for me to be able to visit my daughter’s family to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. At first, I was under consideration which transportation I should take. I made a decision to take a train. I would rather take a scenic route on the train along the Pacific coast. It could have been a really a challenging trip, even though it took me 16 hours long for a day, I could stretch my feet to the full length in the Coach and relax myself on the go. I could read the book and I could be in the depth of meditation and speculation. Actually 16 hours of my trip were not long period of time because I was able to enjoy every minute of my trip. I was on cloud nine and at peace with myself. I could taste the essence of core of life.
My first train ride in this country was to Hearst Castle. I had taken a train to Hearst Castle with my younger sister. That time, I couldn’t go up to Sacramento directly, but I had to get off from the train in San Luis Obispo. This time, it was a different case. I was so excited and intrigued with the Amtrak Pacific Surf-liner, because all beautiful beaches along the Pacific coasts could capture my heart. This Pacific Surf-liner is my favorite route because it stretches along the beaches of the Pacific coast. Sacramento is a capital city of California which has very historical and memorable backgrounds.
I woke up at 6:00 o’clock and I prepared kimbab (Korean seaweed rice roll) for lunch with drinks. I packed peeled pieces of fruit and 2 books. I arrived at 7 o’clock at ARTIC (Anaheim Regional International Center). I was on board of Metrolink at 7:45 a.m. One hour later, the train arrived at Los Angels and I transferred to the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner bound for Sacramento.
Three hours after I left Los Angeles for Sacramento, I could catch on beautiful beaches. Santa Barbara beach looked beautiful and picturesque.
The Channel-islands attracted my attention and they looked like a figure of a naked woman lied down on one side. Santa Margarita beach followed by Pismo beach looked so enchanted that I fell into a trance.
The near sea was little waving in green like emerald. The far sea looked navy-blue. There were ripples in the ocean. There was neither billow nor surge at all. The dazzling silvery sea looked so beautiful that I almost lost my sight. There were offshore oil-well drilling rigs here and there in the middle of the sea. They looked like ships.
The sea-gulls were hovering in flocks to the sky. They looked like enjoying freedom in peace with the nature. I am ashamed of myself contrasting with them. I have been busy with hectic schedules every day. I learn a lesson from them. I wished I have been a bird. I could see many surfers enjoying surfing on the sea even in the winter season. They were camping on the beach. They must be proud of themselves for having healthy bodies against the cold weather.
A lot of horse riders slowing down were greeting waving their hands to the passengers on the train. I waved my hands back to them with thanks and smiled at them. It didn’t matter whether they noticed me or not. I couldn’t see flowers blooming on the mountainside but I could see the vast green fields with various vegetables. The farmers supply many produces to the different states. I could see a lot of seedlings of the grapes on the fields or hillsides here and there.
The mountains in California are not bare but covered with green plants or trees. They looked so beautiful and rich that passengers were happy.
Even though there had been droughts for many years, how the trees could grow rich. I wondered what brought the miracle. I asked a passenger next to me. In her opinion, she thought that the trees absorbed water from the deep ground and at night dew falls on the trees and make them wet.
The trees could endure the draught and survive and sustain their lives.
She spoke a very reliable reason and I came to believe it.
I passed by San Luis Obispo. As soon as the landscapes of the sea were out of sight, the train was running through the mountains into deep mountains upwards. It was a winding track. It passed through several tunnels and I was shaken as if I were riding a roller coaster. It was really a scary experience. I was panicked totally. In far distance I could see 101 Freeway, and running cars looked like the babies’ palms. The train went up to the peak of the mountains and I could see Pacific Ocean a little bit and the small rocks on the beach.
I was seized with panic on the route after beaches. It was so stressful. However, the train was descending downward in a slope way. I could calm down and complacent. I could compose myself.
The train passed by San Hose beach and Santa Clara Beach and reached Oakland near to San Francisco. The train arrived at Davis City which famous UC Davis State University is located in. I got off from the train in Sacramento and my son-in-low and my daughter were waiting for me and welcomed me with their big embraces.
We shared our love and after midnight we arrived at their house. My granddaughters fell sound asleep and they didn’t notice that their grandmother came home to see them. Probably, they might dream of seeing their grandmother in their dreams……
